Optimization of Multimedia Service Over an IMS Network

ABSTRACT

Predetermined multimedia services are provided to a plurality of users through a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A request is received at a placement server of a multimedia service by at least one user, and the placement server retrieves on a presence server information about the at least one user. The placement server identifies application servers including a multimedia application capable of providing the requested multimedia service, and the placement server selects an application server that is located a minimum average distance from at least one user. In response to the minimum average distance being greater than a predetermined threshold, a local application server is selected with an average distance from the user that is less than the predetermined threshold. A virtual image of the multimedia application is created on the selected local application server, and a connection is established between the user and the selected local application server.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of digital networks, moreparticularly to a method and system for optimization of multimediaservices over IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) Networks.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

FIG. 1A schematically represents a traditional network environment thatsupports individual services. In this environment, services tend to beprovided in an arrangement that is like vertical silos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an example embodiment in accordance with the invention, a method isdescribed for providing predetermined multimedia services to a pluralityof users through a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The IMS comprises apresence server that maintains information about the plurality of users,where the information about the plurality of users includes a positionof each user. The IMS further comprises a plurality of applicationservers, where each application server includes at least one multimediaapplication configured to provide at least one multimedia service, and aplacement server that has access to a repository containing informationabout the plurality of application servers and the associated multimediaapplications, the information about the plurality of application serversand the associated multimedia applications including a position of eachapplication server. The method comprises receiving a request at theplacement server of a multimedia service by at least one of theplurality of users, the placement server retrieving on the presenceserver information about the at least one user, and the placement serveridentifying application servers including a multimedia applicationcapable of providing the requested multimedia service, the placementserver selecting an application server that is located a minimum averagedistance from the at least one user. In response to the minimum averagedistance being greater than a predetermined threshold, a localapplication server is selected with an average distance from the atleast one user that is less than the predetermined threshold, a virtualimage of the multimedia application is created on the selected localapplication server, and a connection is established between the at leastone user and the selected local application server.

In another example embodiment of the present invention, an IP MultimediaSubsystem (IMS) for providing multimedia services to a plurality ofusers comprises a presence server that maintains information about theplurality of users, where the information about the plurality of usersincludes the position of each user, a plurality of application servers,where each application server includes at least one multimediaapplication configured to provide at least one multimedia service, arepository that includes information about the plurality of applicationservers and the associated multimedia applications, where theinformation about the plurality of application servers and theassociated multimedia applications includes a position of eachapplication server, and a placement server that has access to therepository and the presence server and is further configured such that,upon receipt of a request of a multimedia service by at least one of theplurality of users. The placement server is configured to identifyapplication servers capable of providing the requested multimediaservice, select which of the identified application servers is located aminimum average distance from the at least one user, responsive to suchminimum average distance being greater than a predetermined threshold,select a local application server with an average distance from the atleast one user that is less than the predetermined threshold, and createa virtual image of the multimedia application on the selected localapplication server. The IMS further comprises a network configured toestablish a connection between the at least one user and the selectedapplication server.

In another example embodiment of the present invention, a computerprogram product is provided for performing a method of providingpredetermined multimedia services to a plurality of users through an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS). The IMS comprises a presence server tomaintain information about the plurality of users, the information aboutthe plurality of users including a position of each user, a plurality ofapplication servers, each application server including at least onemultimedia application configured to provide at least one multimediaservice, and a placement server that has access to a repositorycontaining information about the plurality of application servers andthe associated multimedia applications, the information about theplurality of application servers and the associated multimediaapplications including a position of each application server. Thecomputer program product comprises a computer readable storage mediumhaving computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computerreadable program code configured to execute a method on a dataprocessing system, where the method comprises the placement serverreceiving a request of a multimedia service by at least one of theplurality of users, the placement server retrieving on the presenceserver information about the at least one user, the placement serveridentifying application servers including a multimedia applicationcapable of providing the requested multimedia service, the placementserver selecting the application server having a minimum averagedistance from the at least one user, responsive to the minimum averagedistance being greater than a predetermined threshold, selecting a localapplication server with an average distance from the at least one userthat is less than the predetermined threshold, creating a virtual imageof the multimedia application on the selected local application server,and establishing a connection between the at least one user and theselected application server.

The above and further features and advantages of embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription thereof, when taken in conjunction with the attacheddrawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures areutilized to designate like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example embodiment of an IP Multimedia Subsystemarchitecture in accordance with the present invention compared to atraditional architecture.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a general computer system adapted to support themethod of an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example network system according inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart representing the steps to perform an examplemethod in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a set of specifications that describesthe Next Generation Networking (NGN) architecture for implementing IPbased telephony and multimedia services, over combined wired/wirelessnetworks.

IMS is a substantial evolution with respect to the traditional networkenvironment that supported individual services. Rather then being basedon the traditional network-tailored hardware (HW) and software (SW)solutions, which tended to silo implementations of Providers' Services,IMS (see FIG. 1B) is based on open standards and common middleware. Inparticular, the IMS top logical layer, known as Service Plane, is basedon a variety of components that includes Multimedia Server, ApplicationServers that host specific IMS Applications and Application Enablers,like Presence Server and XDMS (i.e. XML Document Management Server whichis able to manage XML documents of any type in an application andservice-independent way).

In particular, the Presence Server provides the service that allows auser to be informed about the reachability, availability and willingnessto communicate with another user. Furthermore, the presence serviceallows users to give details of their communication means andcapabilities (e.g., whether they have capabilities such as audio, video,instant messaging, etc. and in which terminal those capabilities arepresent). The entity (person or system) that is providing presenceinformation to the Presence Server is called presentity. A givenpresentity has several devices known as Presence User Agents (PUA) whichprovide information about their presence: for example a SIP Phone, alaptop or a PDA are PUAs.

Presence information may be used by other entities that want tocommunicate with the presentity. The other entities are called watchers.Watchers can be notified about changes in the presence information.

-   -   Planes in the IMS host servers/applications, such as the        following:    -   A service plane hosts services/applications, for example        multi-gaming applications, that are used by the users connected        to the IMS network and that can be implemented in virtualization        environments.    -   A control plane hosts Media Servers. By definition, a media        server is a device that simply stores and shares media using a        network connection with enough speed to allow access to that        media. Depending on the uses and applications that it runs, a        media server may require large amounts of RAM, or a powerful,        multicore CPU.

In state of the art IMS networks, the collocation of the IMS serviceplane elements and Media Servers need not be related to presenceinformation in order to optimize resource consumption (e.g., by avoidingunnecessary or unwanted network congestions) in IMS Service and Controlplanes, where such optimization conserves resources, energy and traffic.

With reference to FIG. 2, a generic computer of the system (e.g.computer, Internet server, router, remote servers) is denoted byreference number 250. The computer 250 is formed by several units thatare connected in parallel to a system bus 253. In detail, one or moremicroprocessors 256 control operation of the computer 250; a RAM 259 isdirectly used as a working memory by the microprocessors 256, and a ROM262 stores basic code for a bootstrap of the computer 250. Peripheralunits are clustered around a local bus 265 (via respective interfaces).In particular, a mass memory includes of a hard-disk 268 and a drive 271for reading CD-ROMs 274. Moreover, the computer 250 includes inputdevices 277 (for example, a keyboard and a mouse), and output devices280 (for example, a monitor and a printer). A Network Interface Card 283is used to connect the computer 250 to the network. A bridge unit 286interfaces the system bus 253 with the local bus 265. Eachmicroprocessor 256 and the bridge unit 286 can operate as master agentsrequesting an access to the system bus 253 for transmitting information.An arbiter 289 manages the granting of the access with mutual exclusionto the system bus 253. Similar considerations apply where the system hasa different topology, or it is based on other networks. Alternatively,the computers can have a different structure, include equivalent units,or have other data processing entities (such as PDAs, mobile phones, andthe like).

An example embodiment of the present invention exploits the advantagesprovided by the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. IMS is a setof requirements and specifications defined by 3^(rd) GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) and 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project 2(3GPP2). These two projects were formed through collaboration agreementswhich involved a number of regional telecommunication standard bodies(e.g. European Telecommunications Standards Institute, Association ofRadio Institute and Businesses/Telecommunication Technology Committee(ARIB/TTC) (Japan), China Communications Standards Association, Alliancefor Telecommunications Industry Solutions (North America) andTelecommunications Technology Association (South Korea)). IMS defines aunifying architecture for IP-based services over both packet and circuitswitched networks. It enables the convergence of different wireless andfixed access technologies for the creation, delivery and consumption ofmultimedia services. IMS also supports services integration throughstandardized reference points (akin to interfaces and protocols), whichnot only makes service creation faster and easier, but also leveragesthe services available through Internet technologies such as WebServices. One of the objectives of IMS is the ability to develop anddeploy services as quickly as possible. The IMS architecture is designedto enable this capability by providing an environment which is incontrast to the traditional vertically silo network environment thatsupported individual services. On the other hand, the single convergednetwork environment created by IMS aims at eliminating multiplicity ofservices by enabling sharing of services across the differentfunctionality planes thereby reducing cost and creating better userexperience.

The following are some examples of IP based multimedia services whichcould be delivered to users through an IP Multimedia Subsystem network:

-   -   Multiplayer games;    -   Push to talk;    -   Video chat;    -   Conferencing;    -   Instant messaging.

Multimedia services are provided by multimedia applications which areavailable on application servers. In accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve theefficiency of such a network by providing and managing IMS services (inparticular, but not exclusively, gaming services) based on IMS workloadand the position of the users connected, exploiting information aboutuser location and users' device capabilities (e.g. in terms of bandwidthand distance).

FIG. 3 schematically shows a system according to an example embodimentof the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 3, two Regions301 are represented: a US Region and a European Region (however, it isnoted that other possible geographic location could also be used). Twousers 303 (User A and User B) are both connected to an IMS Network fromEuropean Region through Media Server 305. Information about the users Aand B were previously stored on a Presence Server 307 as mentionedabove. The system also includes a Placement Server 309 which has thefunction of ensuring that Virtual Applications are available and set upwhen requested by connected users. Moreover, it determines which is thebest virtual environment to allocate the IMS applications and MediaServer based on the current users that are connected and using it.Placement Server 309 also includes a repository of all availablemultimedia applications throughout the whole IMS network and allnecessary information for accessing such information and for setting upa virtual environment for installing/moving a virtual image of suchapplication on different servers. A plurality of Application Servers 311can be physically placed in different Regions (e.g., a European and a USRegion of the present example). Each Application Server contains anumber of multimedia applications which can be accessed by any userconnected to the IMS network, where each multimedia application canprovide one or more multimedia services. Following this example, if theUsers A and B desired to connect to a multimedia application foraccessing a multimedia service (e.g., a gaming service to start a gamesession), they could connect through the local Media Server 305 and thePlacement Server 309 to any Application Server 311. However, it would bemuch more efficient for the requested application to be available on aServer in the European Region. According to an example embodiment of thepresent invention, the Placement Server 309 retrieves presentityinformation from the Presence Server. Such presentity information caninclude one or more of the following:

-   -   users' device type;    -   users' capabilities (e.g., whether the user has audio, video,        and/or instant messaging devices);    -   bandwidth for user connection;    -   communication “distance” (e.g., the number of proxy servers)        between users connected from a specific zone and the IMS        deployed service;    -   billing information related to IMS service    -   QoS (Quality of Service) associated to the service.

Using such collected information, the Placement Server 309 can determinewhich is the best virtual environment to allocate the IMS applicationsand Media Server based on the current users that are connected. In theexample of FIG. 3, a scenario might exist in which the Placement Server309 receives the request by Users A and B through Media Server 305 of aspecific Gaming application which is available on the Server 311 in theUS Region.

The decision regarding how to arrange the virtual environment and theselection of the best placement for the previously selected IMS elementscan be based on several different parameters and properties including,without limitation, the following examples:

-   -   Maximum number of users connected from a specific zone;    -   Average communication bandwidth for the users connected from a        specific zone;    -   Average Communication “distance” (e.g., the number of proxy        servers or the geographical distance between server) between the        users connected from a specific zone and the IMS deployed        service, in general the “distance” parameter can be        representative of any kind of distance, either topological (i.e.        depending on the network configuration and topology) or        physical.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the method steps according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention. The process starts at step 401 andgoes to step 403 where a request is received by one or more users toaccess a multimedia service of an IMS network as described above. Thisnew request from a user is just one of several examples of events whichcan trigger the example method of the present invention. Otherpossibilities include, without limitation, an addition of new users tothe connection, availability of a new remote server or in general anymodification to the IMS network layout which allows a betterdistribution or organization of connections between servers and endusers and a more efficient placement of virtual environments. Controlcontinues to step 405, where a Placement Server (such as shown in FIG.3) collects information about the one or more users that issued therequest of step 403. Such information about the one or more users isavailable in a Presence Server as described above and may includeinformation about the position of such users and the capabilities ofusers' equipment and connections (e.g., the bandwidth available to eachuser). The Placement Server also retrieves (step 407) information aboutthe requested applications, e.g., where such applications are available,on which server and the transmission speed of the network connectionbetween the server and the users. This information can be included in arepository within the Placement Server or it could be stored on anexternal repository accessible by the Placement Server. The PlacementServer identifies those application servers including a multimediaapplication able to provide the requested multimedia service. Theapplication server providing the best performances (e.g. having theminimum average distance from the users) is then selected. If suchexpected performances are not satisfactory (e.g., the average distanceis greater than a predetermined threshold), the system attempts toidentify better solutions. According to all information collected, thePlacement Server can make an evaluation of possible re-arrangement ofthe IMS network in order to improve the speed and the efficiency of themultimedia services.

Following the example shown in FIG. 3, if the European users 303 requesta specific gaming application and this application is available on aremote server (e.g. on the US Region Application Server), it would bemuch better to install or migrate a virtual image on the EuropeanApplication Server. This is done by the Placement Server after anevaluation is performed based on the available parameters andinformation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that several toolsfor optimizing workload and transmission can be used for this operation.Non-limiting examples of parameters which can be taken intoconsideration include:

-   -   Number of users connected from a specific zone;    -   Average communication bandwidth for the users connected from a        specific zone;    -   Average Communication “distance” (e.g., the number of proxy        servers) between the users connected from a specific zone and        the IMS deployed service.        In the present example, the thresholds used to determine the        need of a re-arrangement correspond to a “continental” distance.        In other words, if it is not possible to find an application        server with the requested application (and service) in the same        continental zone (e.g. Europe), then a move of the application        is needed. It is also possible to dynamically modify the network        layout when one or more of the starting conditions change. Going        back to the diagram of FIG. 4, if the Placement Server        determines that an improvement is possible in the network        organization, such improvement is implemented. In the example        above, the requested gaming application can be moved from the US        Application Server to the European Application Server (step 411)        and subsequently the multimedia session is started (step 413).        “Moving” an application means re-creating the same conditions        which allow the requested multimedia service to be provided on a        different application server. One skilled in the art will        appreciate that this moving step can be implemented with several        different techniques. According to an example embodiment of the        present invention, the move corresponds to movement of a virtual        image of the multimedia application. The virtual image move can        be done in different ways according to the specific        virtualization technology used. For example, the move can occur        “on the fly” without performing any user interruption or,        alternatively, the virtual environment could be suspended, moved        and restored on the new system. If no improvement is possible or        is not advantageous according to a predetermined thresholds        parameter, the control goes directly to step 413 where the        multimedia session is started.

Thus, the example embodiments of the present invention provide a methodand system that exploits information about a user (e.g. position andcharacteristics of user's equipment) available in the Presence Server,for implementing a more efficient virtual environment to allocate IMSapplications based upon currently connected users. It is possible toimprove the efficiency of the IMS network by providing and managing IMSservices (e.g., gaming services) based upon IMS workload and theposition of the users connected, exploiting information about userlocation and users' device capabilities (e.g. in terms of bandwidth anddistance).

Alterations and modifications may be made to the above without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Naturally, in order to satisfy localand specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to thesolution described above many modifications and alterations. Althoughthe present invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity with reference to preferred embodiment(s) thereof, itshould be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changesin the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible.Moreover, it is expressly intended that specific elements and/or methodsteps described in connection with any disclosed embodiment of theinvention may be incorporated in any other embodiment as a generalmatter of design choice.

For example, similar considerations apply if the computers havedifferent structure or include equivalent units. It is possible toreplace the computers with any code execution entity (such as a PDA, amobile phone, and the like).

Similar considerations also apply if the program (which may be used toimplement each embodiment of the invention) is structured in a differentway, or if additional modules or functions are provided.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The one or more example embodiments of the present invention provide anumber of advantages including, without limitation, the leveraging ofinformation about a user (e.g. position and characteristics of user'sequipment) available in the Presence Server, for implementing a moreefficient virtual environment to allocate IMS applications based oncurrently connected users. The presence information dynamicallyoptimizes the allocation of the IMS Service plane applications, andMedia Servers are deployed in a virtual environment. In an exampleembodiment, the optimization will occur both in terms of number of usersconnected from the same zone and the best available communicationbandwidth.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been demonstrated indetail as examples, it should be understood by a person skilled in theart that the above examples are only intended to be illustrative but notto limit the scope of the present invention. It should be understood bya person skilled in the art that the above embodiments can be modifiedwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.The scope of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

1. A method of providing predetermined multimedia services to aplurality of users through a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), wherein theIMS comprises a presence server that maintains information about theplurality of users, the information about the plurality of usersincludes a position of each user, a plurality of application servers,wherein each application server includes at least one multimediaapplication configured to provide at least one multimedia service, and aplacement server that has access to a repository containing informationabout the plurality of application servers and the associated multimediaapplications, the information about the plurality of application serversand the associated multimedia applications including a position of eachapplication server, the method comprising: receiving a request at theplacement server of a multimedia service by at least one of theplurality of users; the placement server retrieving on the presenceserver information about the at least one user; the placement serveridentifying application servers including a multimedia applicationcapable of providing the requested multimedia service; the placementserver selecting an application server that is located a minimum averagedistance from the at least one user; responsive to the minimum averagedistance being greater than a predetermined threshold, selecting a localapplication server with an average distance from the at least one userthat is less than the predetermined threshold; creating a virtual imageof the multimedia application on the selected local application server;and establishing a connection between the at least one user and theselected local application server.
 2. The method claim 1, wherein theminimum average distance is based upon a number of proxy servers betweenthe application server and the at least one user, the proxy serversbeing located in a communication network that comprises the IMS.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the minimum average distance includes anindication of a physical distance between the application server and theat least one user.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a localapplication server includes selecting an application server so that theaverage distance between the users and the selected application serveris minimized.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting an applicationserver so that the average distance between the at least one user andthe selected application server is minimized is repeated each time anIMS configuration changes and, responsive to a different applicationservice being selected, modifying the existing connection for the atleast one user in the IMS.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein selectingan application server so that the average distance between the at leastone user and the selected application server is minimized is repeatedeach time a new request from a user is received for the same multimediaservice and, responsive to a different multimedia service beingselected, modifying the existing connection for the at least one user inthe IMS.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein information about theplurality of users includes at least one of a connection characteristicof each user's equipment, a connection speed of each user's equipment, abandwidth of each user's equipment, and a route from each user toapplication servers including intermediate proxy servers.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein each user is assigned a parameter indicative of theuser's communication characteristics, and the minimum average distanceis adjusted according to the assigned parameter.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein multimedia services include gaming services.
 10. An IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS) for providing multimedia services to aplurality of users, the IMS comprising: a presence server that maintainsinformation about the plurality of users, wherein the information aboutthe plurality of users includes the position of each user; a pluralityof application servers, wherein each application server includes atleast one multimedia application configured to provide at least onemultimedia service; a repository that includes information about theplurality of application servers and the associated multimediaapplications, wherein the information about the plurality of applicationservers and the associated multimedia applications includes a positionof each application server; a placement server that has access to therepository and the presence server and is further configured such that,upon receipt of a request of a multimedia service by at least one of theplurality of users, the placement server is configured to: identifyapplication servers capable of providing the requested multimediaservice; select which of the identified application servers is located aminimum average distance from the at least one user; responsive to suchminimum average distance being greater than a predetermined threshold,select a local application server with an average distance from the atleast one user that is less than the predetermined threshold; and createa virtual image of the multimedia application on the selected localapplication server; and a network configured to establish a connectionbetween the at least one user and the selected application server.
 11. Acomputer program product for performing a method of providingpredetermined multimedia services to a plurality of users through a IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), wherein the IMS comprises a presence serverto maintain information about the plurality of users, the informationabout the plurality of users including a position of each user, aplurality of application servers, each application server including atleast one multimedia application configured to provide at least onemultimedia service, and a placement server that has access to arepository containing information about the plurality of applicationservers and the associated multimedia applications, the informationabout the plurality of application servers and the associated multimediaapplications including a position of each application server, thecomputer program product comprising: a computer readable storage mediumhaving computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computerreadable program code configured to execute a method on a dataprocessing system, the method comprising: the placement server receivinga request of a multimedia service by at least one of the plurality ofusers; the placement server retrieving on the presence serverinformation about the at least one user; the placement serveridentifying application servers including a multimedia applicationcapable of providing the requested multimedia service; the placementserver selecting the application server having a minimum averagedistance from the at least one user; responsive to the minimum averagedistance being greater than a predetermined threshold, selecting a localapplication server with an average distance from the at least one userthat is less than the predetermined threshold; creating a virtual imageof the multimedia application on the selected local application server;and establishing a connection between the at least one user and theselected application server.
 12. A service deployed in a data processingsystem for performing the method of claim 1.